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The Portable Graham Greene
In a range of work including novels of literary suspense that test both their protagonists' souls and their readers' nerves to the breaking point, Graham Greene explored a territory located somewhere on the border between despair and faith, treachery and love.
610 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
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About the author
Graham Greene
803 books6,152 followersHenry Graham Greene was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading novelists of the 20th century.
Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquired a reputation early in his lifetime as a major writer, both of serious Catholic novels, and of thrillers (or "entertainments" as he termed them). He was shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times. Through 67 years of writing, which included over 25 novels, he explored the conflicting moral and political issues of the modern world. The Power and the Glory won the 1941 Hawthornden Prize and The Heart of the Matter won the 1948 James Tait Black Memorial Prize and was shortlisted for the Best of the James Tait Black. Greene was awarded the 1968 Shakespeare Prize and the 1981 Jerusalem Prize. Several of his stories have been filmed, some more than once, and he collaborated with filmmaker Carol Reed on The Fallen Idol (1948) and The Third Man (1949).
He converted to Catholicism in 1926 after meeting his future wife, Vivienne Dayrell-Browning. Later in life he took to calling himself a "Catholic agnostic". He died in 1991, aged 86, of leukemia, and was buried in Corseaux cemetery in Switzerland. William Golding called Greene "the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man's consciousness and anxiety".
Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquired a reputation early in his lifetime as a major writer, both of serious Catholic novels, and of thrillers (or "entertainments" as he termed them). He was shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times. Through 67 years of writing, which included over 25 novels, he explored the conflicting moral and political issues of the modern world. The Power and the Glory won the 1941 Hawthornden Prize and The Heart of the Matter won the 1948 James Tait Black Memorial Prize and was shortlisted for the Best of the James Tait Black. Greene was awarded the 1968 Shakespeare Prize and the 1981 Jerusalem Prize. Several of his stories have been filmed, some more than once, and he collaborated with filmmaker Carol Reed on The Fallen Idol (1948) and The Third Man (1949).
He converted to Catholicism in 1926 after meeting his future wife, Vivienne Dayrell-Browning. Later in life he took to calling himself a "Catholic agnostic". He died in 1991, aged 86, of leukemia, and was buried in Corseaux cemetery in Switzerland. William Golding called Greene "the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man's consciousness and anxiety".
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 27, 2010
Greene wrote a lot, so he's going to have a lot of examples of good writing and not-so-good writing. I enjoyed some of the excerpts (as much as I can enjoy excerpts) from his memoirs, especially the one entitled "Russian Roulette" that went into an eerie story about playing Russian roulette as a way to test the fates and get a quick thrill. A few of the stories were pretty good like the "The End of the Party" and "A Wedding Proposal." The novel included, 'The Heart of the Matter,' was a great story, but I got kind of apathetic about the character's struggle to adhere to the dogmas of Catholicism and wasn't happy with the ending (it's a cheap way to end a story nowadays and I didn't think Scobie was tragic enough to do it--although that may have been the point). As I mentioned before, Greene went up and down in the quality of his writing. Some of it excited me a lot and had me scribbling notes in the margins, but some of it was trite and boring. I guess I could go find some examples but shit, is anyone even reading this?
October 7, 2018
I got as far through this as I'm likely to for the moment (over halfway but not to the end). Graham Greene is a classic and this is excellent, though my own personal favourite is "The Quiet American." "The Heart of the Matter" in here is excellent but a bit overwrought at times. Some of the shorts don't quite work. But there are flashes of sheer genius too. You have to read Greene before you die, right? And this is a good place to start.
August 13, 2012
This book contains excerpts from other Greene novels and two complete novels, The Heart of the Matter (which I've read) and The Third Man (which I haven't). Greene is a pleasant discovery made through the 1001 Books challenge I've set for myself. I recently read another of his books, Our Man in Havana, and enjoyed it immensely.
June 25, 2017
Eclectic concoction of pieces from an author mostly forgotten today, but a helluva big deal from the 30s to the 60s, especially around WWII. Mostly remembered for the short novel, The Third Man, included here, which he wrote before working on the screenplay (which itself is mostly remembered for a zither score and Orson Welles's "Cuckoo Clock" monologue, which Welles himself wrote), and for the novel The Quiet American, which is not included here. The Heart of the Matter, popular in its day, mostly left me with the blahs and was a disappointment. What was all the excitement about?There are some short stories, most of them good, and some essays and critical pieces, most of which are now curiousity pieces.
The Third Man shows Rollo--changed to "Holly" for the screenplay; both odd names, then and now--as an idiot, or an innocent schmuck, take your pick. I remember that Peter Bogdonavich, during the commentary during the movie, constantly referred to the character as a stooge, and I didn't (and don't) quite see that in the movie, but it's more than obvious in the book. The novel also doesn't have the famous scene at the very end, when she walks right by him. The ending in the book is a bit of a sellout, and Greene himself says he prefers the movie to his own writing. He says in this collection that the movie got the story right more than his story did.
A few of the short stories are good, especially one in which a lonely woman has a very strange, yet understandable (?), one-night stand with--How can I say this?--a rotund elderly gentleman. Must be read to be believed, yet at the end you sympathize with her as you try to collect yourself. A couple others are good. Greene's probably at his best with his eye to detail, which makes sense as he was a reporter and war correspondent for many years. His work, especially his war stories, and his WWII stuff masquerading as slice-of-life short stories, show this. His dialogue is good, but probably a bit dated, but I bet it was very accurate for its time.
His work, at its best, transcends, so it's easy to see why films are still made from his writing. He's been left more and more in the shadows these last 20 years or so, and I suspect he'll continue to be.
The Third Man shows Rollo--changed to "Holly" for the screenplay; both odd names, then and now--as an idiot, or an innocent schmuck, take your pick. I remember that Peter Bogdonavich, during the commentary during the movie, constantly referred to the character as a stooge, and I didn't (and don't) quite see that in the movie, but it's more than obvious in the book. The novel also doesn't have the famous scene at the very end, when she walks right by him. The ending in the book is a bit of a sellout, and Greene himself says he prefers the movie to his own writing. He says in this collection that the movie got the story right more than his story did.
A few of the short stories are good, especially one in which a lonely woman has a very strange, yet understandable (?), one-night stand with--How can I say this?--a rotund elderly gentleman. Must be read to be believed, yet at the end you sympathize with her as you try to collect yourself. A couple others are good. Greene's probably at his best with his eye to detail, which makes sense as he was a reporter and war correspondent for many years. His work, especially his war stories, and his WWII stuff masquerading as slice-of-life short stories, show this. His dialogue is good, but probably a bit dated, but I bet it was very accurate for its time.
His work, at its best, transcends, so it's easy to see why films are still made from his writing. He's been left more and more in the shadows these last 20 years or so, and I suspect he'll continue to be.
January 19, 2023
A third view of “The Third Man”
I am a fan of many of Graham Greene’s writings. This book is however very eclectic in content. Of course, this also means there is a little something for everyone.
My main reason acquiring for the book was the written story of “The Third Man.” Not the screenplay. I did not realize how much of the feel of the movie Graham Greene was.
This is a review of the Penguin classic and there are no pictures or diagrams; just pure Graham Greene writing edited by and with a helpful introduction by Philip Stratford.
I am a fan of many of Graham Greene’s writings. This book is however very eclectic in content. Of course, this also means there is a little something for everyone.
My main reason acquiring for the book was the written story of “The Third Man.” Not the screenplay. I did not realize how much of the feel of the movie Graham Greene was.
This is a review of the Penguin classic and there are no pictures or diagrams; just pure Graham Greene writing edited by and with a helpful introduction by Philip Stratford.
September 15, 2022
This is a terrific way to look at the remarkable variety of types of writing that Graham Greene produced during his prolific literary career. Philip Stratford, the editor, is a professor at the University of Montreal, and he has written the introduction to each of Greene's works included here, as well as the general introduction. He has divided the contents into "Reminiscences, Fiction, Criticism, and Commitments."
August 23, 2013
I've always been leery of reading excerpts from larger works; my enjoyment of the writing is usually diminished by the lack of context, like I'm overhearing an inside joke: I might be able to make out why the people in on it are laughing, but the total significance of it is beyond me, since I don't have the shared experience. Some of the selections in this collection gave me that feeling, but Greene was so great at putting words together that he can still entertain you and move you even when you don't know what the hell is going on.
There are two long pieces that are included in their entirety (most notably Greene's novelization of The Third Man--an odd thing to read since the story itself was always intended as a film and Greene wrote the story as a kind of launching pad for a screenplay) and The Heart of the Matter, as well his fantastic short story "The End of the Party". The autobiography section was wonderful, as well.
The book did the trick as far as inspiring me to track down the books the excerpts came from (as well as delving into Evelyn Waugh) so I guess that means it did its job. I can still only go to 3 stars, though, because I hate leaving the table hungry.
There are two long pieces that are included in their entirety (most notably Greene's novelization of The Third Man--an odd thing to read since the story itself was always intended as a film and Greene wrote the story as a kind of launching pad for a screenplay) and The Heart of the Matter, as well his fantastic short story "The End of the Party". The autobiography section was wonderful, as well.
The book did the trick as far as inspiring me to track down the books the excerpts came from (as well as delving into Evelyn Waugh) so I guess that means it did its job. I can still only go to 3 stars, though, because I hate leaving the table hungry.
October 4, 2023
A third view of “The Third Man”
I am a fan of many of Graham Greene’s writings. This book is however very eclectic in content. Of course, this also means there is a little something for everyone.
My main reason acquiring for the book was the written story of “The Third Man.” Not the screenplay. I did not realize how much of the feel of the movie Graham Greene was.
This is a review of the Penguin classic and there are no pictures or diagrams; just pure Graham Greene writing edited by and with a helpful introduction by Philip Stratford.
I am a fan of many of Graham Greene’s writings. This book is however very eclectic in content. Of course, this also means there is a little something for everyone.
My main reason acquiring for the book was the written story of “The Third Man.” Not the screenplay. I did not realize how much of the feel of the movie Graham Greene was.
This is a review of the Penguin classic and there are no pictures or diagrams; just pure Graham Greene writing edited by and with a helpful introduction by Philip Stratford.
April 7, 2008
Love Greene, but like every "portable" book, there are only bits and pieces of almost all of his books, which never seems quite fulfilling. However, contains the complete The Third Man and The Heart of the Matter.
April 22, 2012
If you adore Graham Greene as much as I do, this portable edition is worth owning. It's got some great excerpts from early works, plus journal excerpts.
March 21, 2016
Just another book I read to find out more about the Author Graham Greene.
July 3, 2025
I'm sure it was very good. Don't even remember anything about it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews